Electric lamp



July 27, 1954 J. G. JARVIS ELECTRIC LAMP Filed Aug. 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l k 5'1 H 'III" i -||1| HVVENTUR.

5/4/1455 G JARVIS.

y 1954 J. 6. JARVIS 2,685,024

ELECTRIC LAMP Filed Aug. 20 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

yz a6 28 JAMES G JARV/S.

Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED fiTATiTig i ATENT @EFiCE ELECTRIC LAMP James G. Jarvis, Meadowvaie, Ontario, Canada Application August 20, 1951, Serial No. 242,702

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates primarily to a switchoperating structure for electric lamps, for example, standard lamps, table lamps, and other lighting equipment of various kinds with a coveredin switch which is operated from a point exterior to the cover therefore.

In the use of the usual switch arrangements for electric lamps, for example in the dark, it is difficult to find and actuate the switch, even if the actuating means are made luminous. For example, in many table lamps the lamp bulb is mounted in a vertically disposed socket, and a reciprocable switch bar is movably mounted in the socket below the bulb, this switch bar being moved in one direction to light the lamp and in the other direction to extinguish the lamp. Further in most of the known switch devices the actuating member projects outwardly, they are exposed to the risk of being damaged, they are unaesthetic, they collect dust and are diflicult to clean.

Lamps of this type are very often provided with a large shade, and it is often inconvenient to operate the switch bar, or key, in that it is disposed below the shade where it is not readily accessible or visible in the daylight or in the darkness of the night.

It is contemplated by the present invention to provide a switch arrangement which overcomes the abovementioned drawbacks and which is applicable in the construction of practically all lamps of widely different kinds.

Broadly, the invention contemplates forming the switch for closing and opening the lamp circuit in such a way that the operation of the switch is effected by depression of a horizontal member presenting a large surface by exercise of a light pressure only, for instance that due to the weight of the hand alone on any part of this horizontal surface, or by a light force exerted upon any vertical portion of the lamp connected with said horizontal surface, and. not, as in the usual switch arrangements, by direct manipulation of a lever, push-button or other projecting element.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switch-operating structure for lamps, which will render the operation of the s"- itch more convenient.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp of the indicated character which is of attractive, artistic design.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a switch-operating structure which may be incorporated in the lamp assembly for lamps of the class described, which will render the operation of the lamp switch more convenient, and which, at the same time, may be economically manufactured, so that it may be made available at a relatively low cost. In all cases it is an important feature of the invention that it shall be capable of being readily located by the unaided sense of touch.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a lamp showing the movable structure thereof for operating an enclosed switch, the lamp shade being shown in section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the lamp with the lamp bulb and the lamp shade removed;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an explodedview thereof showing the various component non-movable parts or the lamp, fragmentary portions thereof shown in section;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the movable member of the lamp, a fragmentary portion thereof being shown in section.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, I have shown in Figure l of the drawings a table lamp or type of lamp having a stationary base portion Hi, a central rigid vertical shaft member H, a movable switch operating member 12, and to said rigid member is secured in upright position a socket Hi. A lamp bulb i5 is disposed in the socket in the usual way, and a shade it of any usual form is shown in connection with the lamp, the shade in this instance being secured in place by clamping wires I! which engage the bulb; however said shade may be supported directly by wires connected to member H which supports said socket M. In accordance with my invention, I provide a stationary base member it which may be fabricated from any desired material, such as from a wood, a metal or a phenolic condensate and which may be formed to any desired shape. In the embodiments of my invention, the base it is fabricated of wood and preferably is formed to a circular shape. The base is formed with an upwardly extending peripherial edge portion L8 to form a central well-portion in the interior thereof. Within said Well-portion is arranged a pushbutton type of electric switch [9 and a compression type leaf-spring 20. Said switch I9 is cylindrical in form and has a base portion 22 which is mounted by pressing said portion 22 into a circular hole arranged within the upper surface of said base 10. The upper portion of said switch [9 has a movable push button 23 extending upwardly therefrom and arranged to be operated by a lower portion of said movable member l2. Said spring 28 is rigidly secured within the well-portion by wood-screws 21; the upper portion of the spring being arranged to contact a lower portion of said movable member l2.

The switch operating member i2 is clearly shown by Figures 1 and 6. Said member l2 as shown comprises three important parts, a vertical tubular member 25, the lower end of which is permanently secured to the upper surface of a horizontal disc-like member 25. Secured to the lower surface of said disc-like member 26 is second disc-like member 21 of a smaller diameter. Said members 25, 25 and 2? form a single unit, said unit having a circular, vertical opening arranged centrally with the vertical axis of said unit. The extreme diameter of said disc 27 is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the well portion within base portion i0, and is positioned to travel vertically, up and down within the walls 58 of said base it.

The lamp supporting member I3 is clearly shown by Figures 1, and 2, and 5. Said member l3 comprises three important parts, the first part, the base 10 with a circular hole 28 bored at its center, said hole being arranged vertically therein and extending from the lower to the upper surface of said base; the second part, a vertical post-like member 29, the lower end of which is permanently secured within said hole 23 in base In, the upper end of said post 22 being formed with an upwardly extending tenon 32; the third part, the wooden top member 32 having a flat central upper portion 33, with a circular depending flange 34 thereon, the central portion 33 being provided with an opening 35 forming a cavitv for the insertion of said tenon 3i! when assembled in order to form a tight joint, said joint being designed whereby said top member 32 may be removed when it is so desired.

Said vertical post member 29 has a centrally arranged opening 35 extending throughout its entire length. In the upper portion of said opening 3% is arranged a short section of pipe 3'! with a smooth interior wall and a threaded exterior wall, said threaded surface being screwed downtion 38 of said pipe extending a short distance wardly into said opening 36, the upper end portion of said pipe extending a short distance above the upper surface of said tenon 3% to which is secured in upright position said socket Hi. Said lamp bulb i is disposed in the socket M in the usual way, and with said shade is secured in place by said clamping wires I! which engage the bulb l5. In this embodiment a locking washer 39 with a threaded central opening 40 is screwed upon the thread of said pipe to hold said member 32 in tight engagement with said tenon 30 and with said post 29. Said base It is provided with an opening 40 bored inwardly and horizontally between its upper and lower surfaces and extending wall to meet and join said opening 35 within post 39. Said base it is also provided with an opening 4! bored downwardly from its upper surface arranged and extending to meet said horizontal opening 60. Said openings 36, 40 and N form a passage for the necessary electrical wiring 52 leading from a suitable source of electrical current to said socket l4, and bulb l5. Said wiring 32 includes a positive wire 23 and a negative wire 52, the positive wire 43 arranged to be connected first with said switch l9 and then upwardly to said socket. The switch 19 itself is not a part of the invention and may consist of a standard type of double action switch. In this type of switch, movement of a certain part, such as push button '33, first operates to open the circuit while subsequent and identical movement serves to close the circuit. This type of switch is well-known in the art and needs no specific description.

In the construction according to Figures 1 and 2, the movable unit I2 is assembled upon stationary supporting member is, the tubular member 25 positioned upon post 29 and in vertical sliding engagement therewith. The disc member 27 is positioned within the well portion within base iii and has a portion of its lower surface resting upon and in contact with spring 26 secured to base id. Said movable unit i2 is held from extreme upward travel by a horizontal stud screwed into the external surface of post 29 once the two units 42 and i3 are assembled. Said stud :35 prevents tubular member 25 from contacting th under portion of the top member 32. The actuation of the switch is effected by depression of the movable part 52 against the action of spring 20, the lower surface of disc 21 operating the switch. the part i2 returning automatically to its initial position under the vertical action of said spring 22 when released. Said actuation of said movable member is accomplished either by the pressure of the hand upon the top surface of disc member 26, or by the grasping of the vertical tubular member 25 and pressing downwardly thereof. The long bearing surface inside member 25 being in close sliding contact with the exterior surface of said post as permits said movable member i2 to be moved in either direction without any side play or horizontal movement thereof. The entire unit i2 moves downwardly about one fourth of an inch W by exercising a light pressure thereon; the lower limit is shown by the dotted horizontal lines within the base H3, shown in Figure 2.

The embodiment of the invention as described above and its adaptation thereof to electric lamp fittings represents only a small selection of the numerous possible arrangements that might be added hereto.

Besides the advantages described above that the movable unit which effects the closure of the circuit can be readily or positively found in the dark, there is also realized the advantage that, for example, while observing the other objects, is no longer necessary to direct the eye to the lamp Or to look for th switch, but the operation of the switch can be effected by mere touch of the hand without necessity for diverting the eyes from observation of said objects.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details that are shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the claim.

What I claim is:

An electric lamp including a circular hollow base having an upwardly projecting rim portion about its peripherical edge thereof, said base having a vertical axial bore in the bottom and disposed in the center thereof, said base having a cylindrical column rigidly mounted in said bore and extending vertically thereabove, said column having an axial bore extending throughout its entire length, a section of pipe mounted in the uppermost portion of said bore, a socket secured to the upper end of said pipe, a lamp bulb mounted in said socket, a shademounted. on said lamp bulb, a vertical slidable sleeve surrounding said column and vertically movable with respect to and independently of said base, a horizontally arranged disc-shaped member rigidly secured to the lower end of said slidable sleeve, a double action switch mounted in the hollow portion of said base, a compression type spring mounted in the hollow portion of said base, said spring being arranged to resiliently force said disc-shaped member upwardly, said switch adapted to be operated by said disc-shaped member, the interior diameter of said slidable sleeve being substantially the same as the external diameter of the cylindrical column, the exterior surface of said rigid column forming a bearing for said sleeve, the interior surface of said sleev acting as a long close fitting bearing surface encompassing said vertical bearing surface of said vertical column, a circular top member with depending edge portions disposed upon the upper end of said rigid cylindrical column, a stop means secured to the upper portion of said column and positioned to contact the upper end portion of said sleeve when it is in its uppermost position due to said spring in the base pressing against the bottom of said movable member, said slidable sleeve and said disc-shaped member being so constructed and arranged that when moved downwardly they will operate said double action switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,032,119 Dalzell et al July 9, 1912 2,102,224 Ruppel Dec. 14, 1937 2,459,898 Stiffel Jan. 25, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 57,390 Netherlands May 15, 1946 

